Form for concrete culverts.



G. W. GOUNTRYMAN. FORM FOR CONCRETE CULVERTS. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24, 1912.

' 1,074,492, Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

12 i! z 12 152i IJV "1 17 ,F-

Witnesses- Inventor Attorneys RAP" COJWASHINUTON D c FFTCE.

GEORGE W. COUNTRYMAN, OF BIRMINGHAM, IOWA.

FORM FOR GGNGBETE CULVERTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. August 24, 1912.

Patented Sept. 36, 1913.

Serial No. 716,924.

to provide a formof the character indicated consisting of a plurality of units, any number of which may be attached together, so that'a culvert or section of a culvert of any length may be molded.

The present invention also aims to provide a form of the character indicated which shall be substantial and over which the concrete or other plastic material may be molded to fornrthe sides and top of the culvert, and which form may be readily collapsed when the concrete has set or har-- dened, in order that the various parts of the form may be removed-from the culvert.

A. still further object of the present invention is to provide a form for concrete culverts which shall be simple and inexpensive in construction, consisting of but few parts and which when erected shall be substantial, and the form being convenient and efficient in its use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of .parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention has been illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters have been employed to denote correspond ing parts, and wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a form constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof as in use; Fig. 3 1s aperspectlve view of one of the arches employed in the present form. Fig. 4: is a perspective view of one of the sides of one of the units.

Referring specifically to the drawings, each unit of the form comprises two side plates 5 having the upper and inwardly inclined flanges 6 and the lower and inwardly sloping flanges 7 The flanges 6 are of considerable width, whereas the flanges 7 are comparatively narrow and have their free edges 8 upturned. Each side plate 5 is provided with an aperture 9 at each end and the flange 6 is provided at each end with an aperture 10. A top plate 11 is adapted to rest on the flanges 6, the side portions of the top plate 11 sloping from a longitudinal central line in order to conform to the inclination of the flanges 6.

At the ends of the various units are arranged arches or ribs, one of which has been shown in detail in Fig. 3. Each of the said arches embodies the legs 12 and the intermediate portion 13, the intermediate portion sloping from a central point to the upper ends of the-legs 12 to conform to the flanges 6 and the tops 11. One of the arches is disposed under and within the adjoining ends of each pair of units, and the adjacent ends of the various parts of the two units are detachably engaged thereto. One of the arches also fits within the outer end of each endmost unit, and the corresponding plates of the end units are detachably engaged thereto.

As illustrated, the intermediate portion 13 of each arch is provided with a pair of apertures 14: at the ridge and with two pairs of apertures 15 adjacent the bridge, the legs of the arch being each provided with a pair of apertures 16. The respective apertures of the various pairs, are arranged along the edgesof the arch. The endmost arches are also provided with inturned ears 17 at the lower ends'of the legs 12 and the ends of the intermediate portion 13 which ears or lugs are provided with apertures 18. The ends of the arches terminate above the lower flanges 7 and are also inturned or bent inwardly above the said flanges to provide ears 19, these ea s being provided with aper tures 20. r r

The arch which is arranged below the adjoining ends of two units braces the corresponding sides 5 and the tops 11 in position, the respective apertures 15 and 16 of the arch registering with the adjoining apertures 10 and 9 of the sides, and therespec tive apertures 14: registering with apertures 22 provided in the ends of the top plates 11. Bolts 21 may thus be passed through the registering apertures so as to detachably connect the ends of the side and top plates. to the arch. The endmost arches are arranged flush with the ends of the side and top plates, the respective apertures of each arch along. its outer edge registering with the apertures in the corresponding ends of the side and top plates for the reception of boltsor similar securing members as above indicated.

A stay rod 23 is detachably connected at its ends to the lower ends of each arch, the said rod having its ends bent angularly as designated by the numeral 24 so as to pass through the apertures 20 of the ears 19. Itwill thus be apparent that the stay rods 23 may be readily dropped into engagement with the lower ends ofthe arches when the arches have been secured in position, the said stay rods bracing the lower ends of the arches against inward movement. 7

The endmost arches being provided with the inturned ears or lugs 17 are adapted for the attachment of a suitable head form 25, by means of bolts or other securing members as will be apparent in order that a head or flange may be molded atthe end of the culvert, as is customary.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the drawings, it will be evident that any number of the units may be coupled together for molding a suitable-length of culvert, it being the practice to first pour the bottom or base of theculvert in place and to then set the form 'on the bottom, as illustrated in Fig. 2, in which event the sides and i top of the culvert may be readily molded over the form. The particular manner of molding the sides and top over the form is well known in the. art, and need not be described atlen'gthl 7 Attention is directed to the fact thatwhen the form is set" on the bottom or base, the flanges 7 of the side plates are adapztedto the form in an'eflective'manner; Theientire-pressure will be transmitted to: the

flanges-7, which in resting upon the base,

will hold the'form' in proper position, it. being noted that thear'ches or ribs: brace* the side and top plates against inwardl movement.

After the concrete hasset orhardened; the I various bolts; or securing: members may. be loosened and the stay I rode 23'- may Y be detached from the arches. The arches: are:

idetaclrab'l y ip'la-teshavingagtheir" ends dgetachabliyacorrthen free to be loosened, which will permit edges of the top plates overlapping the flangesb of the side plates. It will thus be seen that the pressure created upon the 7 top plates'will be transmitted to the side plates through the medium of the upper flanges 6, the top and-side plates not being connected, but being detachablyconnected to the arches in the peculiar manner specified, so that-the edges of the top plates may overlap the upper flanges of the side plates.

In removingthe form, the arches may be.

readily loosened and withdrawn, so that the side plates may swing inwardly, therebypermitting; the top. plates to drop with the upper flanges 6 of the-side plates. The several'parts of-the form may be readily withdrawn from the culvert, and may be;

readily erected. V V

The advantages and capabilities of'the present form-will be clearly apparent, and it will be noted that'gthe objects aimed at have been carried out insuch a manner that the present form provides a desirable one for the purposes for'which it isdesigned.

It is preferable to provide the end arches with 'four or five apertures 16; in each leg, the arches also-being made comparatively wideso as to project outwardly from the ends of the: corresponding. units. This is of advantage whenthe culvert is inclined so that the head form may be secured over i the end arch.-

Having thus described the invention-what is claimed as new is 1. n1 a'collapsible culvert form", a plulrality of units, each comprising. a pair of side plates havlng upper. inturned flanges, and a top plate {and arches fittingwithin the adjoining. ends of the units, the ends-of the side plates and flanges-being detachably havinmstheir' edgesvoverlapping therflanges. rest on the bottomor base-so as to support i 2; n a: collapsible culvert form,, a plu rality of units eachcomprising a 1 pair" of s de: plates: having. upper and lower inting within the 'ad oining: ends of the" units,

the. arches term-i nating 1' above the lower arches the ends Lturnedflanges, and a top plate; 'archesfit neeted to the arches between the upper as my own, I have hereto aflixed. my signaflanges and having their edges overlapping ture in the presence of two witnesses.

the upper flanges, and the lower flanges GEORGE W. COUNTRYMAN. being adapted to rest on a base for support- Witnesses: 5 ing the form. E. R. HUDGEL,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing CHAS. E. BONNETI.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

